Maree Rizk was the sort of mum who danced at parties and helped out at the canteen for her childrens’ sporting clubs.
She was with husband Albert, when she boarded the ill-fated flight, leaving behind two children, James and Vanessa, both aged in their early 20s.
The Sunbury couple had been holidaying with another couple from their large social circle for a month before boarding the ill-fated flight home.
They had unsuccessfully tried to change to the earlier Malaysia Airlines flight their friends had caught home, but were unable to change the booking, friends believe.
Mick Streiff, a close family friend who met the couple through their sons’ junior football club, the Sunbury Kangaroos, said “They helped out everywhere they could”.
While Albert used his business to sponsor junior football Maree would help in the canteen on a Saturday morning, he said.
"They were a huge part of the community. We'd have weekends away together with all our friends and we were just all very tight so it was a shock to us all."
Mr Streiff had seen the couple at a friend's 50th birthday shortly before they left for the trip.
"They were really looking forward to the trip to Europe, it's just very sad it has to end like that,” he said. "You hear it on the news and you don't think it's them."
"They just loved to party and have a good time, that was just them, they were vibrant people."
The story Maree Rizk first appeared on The Sydney Morning Herald.